DISTRICT WIDE TEACH-IN
This Earth Day, the Peralta Colleges will salute the environment by doing what we do best at Peralta: teaching. On Thursday, April 28 Peralta is celebrating Earth Day by inviting faculty across the district and across all disciplines to dedicate their classroom teaching that day to themes relating to environmental sustainability, and if possible, opening their classrooms to class visitors.
LANEY COLLEGE NOON HOUR CELEBRATION
In addition to this district-wide environmental teach-in, at Laney College from 11:30 to 2, we will have a Sustainable Peralta Culinary Cook-Off (where YOU will be one of the judges), live music, a mini farmers market, seed-planting, community partners with information tables, a community garden work party and estuary clean-up day. Come on down!
Sustainability Themes in Every Discipline?
It’s possible for every one of us, no matter what classes we teach, to incorporate an ecological perspective in our subjects, whether it’s Psychology, Sociology & Art or Nursing, Accounting & Computer Science.
Just in our CTE departments, our colleagues are already adapting to changes in their industries by teaching cutting edge skills and concepts: low-emissions truck maintenance and transportation logistics; responsible use of sustainability harvested wood; solar PV panel installation and building energy efficiency; seasonal cooking and local procurement; construction methods that strengthen building while reducing lumber use.
There are already numerous instructors in all across our district teaching green. But, we need to keep on shifting the conversation until it’s a part of the way we and our students think daily. Teaching any theme of environmental sustainability can immediately make our classes more relevant and more fresh. It can also open our students’ minds to think more broadly.
There are numerous resources at our disposal. Many of our colleagues are already knowledgeable about how to integrate concepts of environmental sustainability into our disciplines. There are well-produced documentaries and web-accessible videos available to every Peralta instructor. See the resources tab above to find out more.
Again, this Earth Day we hope you’ll join us in putting a green lens on what Peralta does best: teaching.